"When the tide comes in, row the boat"... Starlink surpasses 250,000 subscribers and expands service [Reading Science]

Starlink satellites loaded on the Falcon 9 rocket launched by SpaceX.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The number of subscribers to SpaceX's satellite internet service, which gained attention due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has surpassed 250,000. SpaceX plans to capitalize on this momentum by expanding the service not only for ground use but also for use on airplanes.

According to the U.S. space news outlet 'SpaceNews' on the 23rd, Jonathan Hofeller, Vice President of Starlink at SpaceX, attended a satellite-related conference on the 22nd and explained, "We currently have 250,000 subscribers, including many consumers, businesses, and small self-employed individuals," adding, "We are producing eight Starlink satellites per day at our factory in Redmond."

Vice President Hofeller also expressed intentions to significantly expand the satellite internet service coverage. There is growing demand in areas such as mobile communication lines and internet services for schools. He emphasized, "There are many different people who need connectivity for their work."

In particular, SpaceX is accelerating the introduction of satellite internet services for aircraft. They have already developed and are testing antennas dedicated to aircraft and are undergoing approval procedures to install them on various types of aircraft. Hofeller said, "I believe the atmosphere is ripe for us to catch up in the field of internet connectivity inside aircraft," adding, "Customer expectations have changed faster than technological advancements." However, he did not mention a specific timeline for the service launch. He only explained, "We plan to provide internet service inside commercial airplanes that is indistinguishable from general internet access," and "We are designing the service so that all passengers on board can connect to the internet simultaneously."

Meanwhile, Starlink satellite internet is a service started by American billionaire Elon Musk in 2019, aiming to create a world where "anyone can access the internet anytime, anywhere" by launching satellites. To date, about 2,000 small Starlink satellites have been launched, with approximately 10,000 more to be added. SpaceX has applied to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch an additional 40,000 satellites.

The service began pilot operations in North America in early 2020 and is available for use by purchasing an antenna and terminal for $99 per month. It is currently also available in Europe. It gained particular attention after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th last month. When civilian internet networks were paralyzed due to the war, the Ukrainian government requested Musk to activate the Starlink satellite internet service and distribute terminals for cyber public opinion warfare, and Musk readily agreed. This was the moment when Starlink, which had been relatively obscure since its pilot launch in 2020, suddenly gained prominence. Thanks to Starlink, the Russia-Ukraine war became the first conflict in which civilians could relay combat situations and civilian casualties worldwide in real time via mobile phones and satellite internet.